The fifth Type 45 destroyer built by BAE Systems for the British navy has set sail for first stage sea trials, UPI reported. The future HMS Defender will spend three weeks off the Scottish coast for tests of speed, maneuverability, power and propulsion, as well as weapons trials. "Defender's trials period will be the shortest yet of the Type 45 destroyers, as we have incorporated lessons learned from the build and in-service support of previous ships in the class," said Paul Rafferty, Type 45 program director at BAE Systems' Surface Ships business. "This is a major achievement and these latest sea trials will give us the opportunity to continue to build on this success and prove the outstanding capability of the latest Type 45 destroyer." The Type 45 is an air defense destroyer. It is 500 feet long and 67.9 feet in the beam. Speed is more than 29 knots. Each Type 45 destroyer can engage a large number of targets simultaneously, and defend aircraft carriers or groups of ships.
